Optimized servicing that adapts preventative and corrective actions to the life of a printhead

Abstract

A method for determining service criteria for a printhead in a printer includes receiving an indication that service is needed, determining a calculated age of the printhead, and selecting a service procedure based on the determined calculated age. The selected service procedure has an impact on the long term life of the printhead that is proportional to the calculated age. The calculated age may be classified as a beginning of life phase, a middle of life phase or a maturity phase, and the service procedures may be selected such that the service procedure for the beginning of life phase has a low impact on the printhead's long term life, the service procedure for the middle of life phase has a moderate impact on the printhead's long term life, and the service procedure for the maturity phase has a severe impact on the printhead's long term life.

1. A method of determining service criteria for a printhead in a printer comprising:
 receiving an indication that service is needed;  
 determining a calculated age of said printhead; and  
 selecting a service procedure based on the determined calculated age.  
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said selected service procedure has an impact on the long term life of said printhead that is proportional to the calculated age. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising classifying said calculated age as one of a plurality of phases. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of phases include at least a beginning of life phase and a maturity phase. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of phases include at least a beginning of life phase, a middle of life phase and a maturity phase. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein said selected service procedure for said beginning of life phase has a low impact on the long term life of said printhead. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein said selected service procedure for said middle of life phase has a moderate impact on the long term life of said printhead. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5 , wherein said selected service procedure for said maturity phase has a severe impact on the long term life of said printhead. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining said calculated age comprises utilizing at least one factor selected from the group consisting of: volume of ink expelled, type of previous service procedures, number of previous service procedures, types of previous failures, number of previous failures, time and number of print jobs printed. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said service procedure has a prolonging impact on the useful life of said printhead. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said selected procedure services nozzles of said printhead that are selected based on a failed health thereof, then checks the health of said selected nozzles and repeats said selected service procedure if said printhead is determined to be operating inadequately. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said service procedure is selected from a plurality of service procedures for curing a failure based on said calculated age. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said service procedure is selected from a plurality of service procedures such that an intensity and a frequency of said service procedures increase corresponding to said calculated age. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus for determining service criteria for a printhead in a printer comprising:
 circuitry for receiving an indication that service is needed; and  
 a processor for determining a calculated age of said printhead and selecting a service procedure based on the determined calculated age.  
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said selected service procedure has an impact on the long term life of said printhead that is proportional to said calculated age. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising circuitry for classifying said calculated age as one of a plurality of phases. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said plurality of phases include at least a beginning of life phase and a maturity phase. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said plurality of phases include at least a beginning of life phase, a middle of life phase and a maturity phase. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said selected service procedure for said beginning of life phase has a low impact on the long term life of said printhead. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said selected service procedure for said middle of life phase has a moderate impact on the long term life of said printhead. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said selected service procedure for said maturity phase has a severe impact on the long term life of said printhead. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said processor for determining said calculated age comprises utilizing at least one factor selected from the group consisting of: volume of ink expelled, type of previous service procedures, number of previous service procedures, types of previous failures, number of previous failures, time and number of print jobs printed. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said service procedure has a prolonging impact on the useful life of said printhead.